Nuclear companies have cleared another hurdle in their quest to build new UK
power stations, after parliament approved planning laws allowing plants to
be built more quickly.

There had been concern that nuclear power plants planned for 2018 and 2020 could be held up for years in lengthy local planning inquiries. It took a four years and 16m words of evidence for Sizewell B to be approved, after a record inquiry in 1985.

The new reforms aim to cut the length of inquiries to a maximum of a year, drawing criticism from local interest and green groups.

However, they have been strongly welcomed by the energy industry. On Tuesday, EDF committed to building the first two new nuclear stations in Somerset and Suffolk with Centrica, describing it as a "major milestone".

Henri Proglio, the executive chairman of the EDF, said: "The UK parliament's vote in favour of nuclear is an essential step for EDF Group and its new nuclear projects. Alongside its partner Centrica, EDF is therefore in a position to move forward its project to build new nuclear stations."

An independent planning body called the Infrastructure Planning Commission will have final responsibility for waving through new nuclear plants in the national interest. The reforms were drafted by the previous Labour government, but the Coalition delayed and overhauled the rules.

A new Localism Bill will give final say on major infrastructure approvals to politicians rather than the independent planning body.

Charles Hendry, the energy minister, said: "Far too often the planning system has resulted in delay and indecision over major energy projects and things simply not getting built."

It is the second major boost for nuclear power in a week, after the Government last Tuesday approved new financial support for nuclear generators.

One of those new incentives, called "feed-in tariffs", will give generators of low-carbon power a higher fixed price for their electricity than the market price, subsidised by billpayers. This is on top of a higher carbon price for the UK than the rest of Europe and new measures to prevent the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

Experts believe the subsidies for nuclear power would not have ensured new stations without the reforms to planning. David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, said the planning reforms were vital.

"Electricity market reforms mean nothing without a planning system that gives investors confidence. The approval ... is an important milestone for the future of electricity generation."

The planning reforms, called the National Policy Statements, are intended to streamline the planning process for major infrastructure projects in sectors such as energy and transport.